Collapsible end leaf construction for tables



Feb. 24, 1942. J. COOPER 2,274,531

COLLAPSIBLE' END LEAF CONSTRUCTION FOR TABLES Filed March 18, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 24, 1942. J; COOPER 2,274,531

COLLAPSIBLE END LEAF CONSTRUCTION FOR'TABLES Filed March 18, 1941 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 24, 1942. J COOPER 2,274,531

COLLAPSIBLE END LEAF CONSTRUCTION .FOR TABLES Filed March 18, 1941 3"SheetsSheet 3 Patented Feb. 24, 1942' g UNITED STATES 1 PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE END LEAF CONSTRUCTION FOR TABLES y 1 Joseph Cooper, New York, N. 'Y. I Application March 18, 1941, Serial Nb. 383,909 lClaim. 01. 311-48) The object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible end leaf construction for tables permitting the employment at an end or side of [the table of a drawer of substantially less length than the length of the end or side of thetable at whichthe drawer is positioned, the collapsible leaf being so constructed that itmay comprise onl'ytwo leaf sections, having equal length so that their line of abutment will be disposed centrally of the end or side of the table top. Furthermore, the, construction is free from springs andthe two leaf sections are so connected and supported relatively to the drawer that upon a Figure lOis a view similar to Figure 9, showing the extension leaves partially raised and preliminary to a swinging and downward movement to the position of Figure 9. 1

Referring to the drawings, I have shown at l a table top mounted upon a rectangular frame 2, 2x, the latter being supported by legs 3. Extending 1 longitudinally of the frame members 2 and insingle arcuate movement of the uppermost leaf, N

" from the drawer, the two leavesare carried flush projected relatively to the drawer and the latter 'willbe concealed.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention, the table top being broken away and certain elements being shown in dotted lines, two extension leaves being employed.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away, illustrating the structure of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view, partly broken away, one drawer with its extension leaf construction being moved out to such position that the leaf sections may be brought over upon the drawer and into abutment with the table top by a single movement.

Figure 4 is a view showing the left-hand end of Figure 3 with the leaf sections raised, extended and ready for abutment with the table top. v

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4, showing the extension leaf construction in abutment with the table top and the drawer retracted into concealed position.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation on the line 5-5, Figure 6.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detailed view, partly in dotted lines, showing a corner area of the table with the drawer in closed position.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7, showing the drawer partly broken away.

Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view, showing one end of the table constructed in accordance with the invention with the drawer in outer upper position ready for movement of the extension leaf construction into operative position.

,wardly spaced therefrom are a pair of guide rails 4 the ends of which may be directly mounted upon the legs 3 in any suitable manner as by cutting away part of the upper inner faces of the legs to provide horizontal supporting shoulders for the guide rails.

As shown more particularly in Figures 9 and 10, guide rails 4 are provided with longitudinally extending channels.

At one or both ends of the table is mounted a drawer member having laterally projecting flanges which slide in the channels of the guide rails, as to the embodiment herein shown. A suitable form of drawer may be constructed by means of a marginally flanged metallic strip bent into rectangular formation so as to have a continuous vertical side wall formation 5, a continuous lower horizontal flange 521:, and an upper flange 5m. To the front of such structure may be secured, as bythe stud 6, Figures 9 and 10, a drawer facing or pull board I. The lower flange 5.7: at each side of the drawer may enter and be guided by the walls of the longitudinal grooves or channels in guide rail 4. In some cases the metallic member 5, 5x, 5m: may be U-shaped so that the back area thereof may be closed by a separate member as, for example, a bar of wood.

Transversely carried within the drawer at one side of its longitudinal center and generally near the top thereof is a pivot rod 8 and mounted to swing on pivot rod 8 is a bracket 9 having apertured flanges 9:1: to receive the rod. The bracket is secured, as by screws 10, to one section of the two-part extension leaf, the said section being indicated at H and a second section at Ila. These sections are hinged together by the hinges I2. When the extension leaf construction is collapsed and in the drawer the lower leaf section I la: at its end opposite the hinge end may rest directly upon the inclined cam face I311: of a supporting block l3 carried interiorly of the drawer.

In the operation of the device the closed drawer may be outwardly to its position shown in Figure 9 so that the leaf construction is brought beyond the edge of table top I. Thereupon the upper leaf section II is grasped at its end and endwise sliding swung upwardly by arcuate motion. Due to the relation between the hinged end of the two-leaf section and the pivot point at 8, this movement will cause the end of the lower leaf section Ila: to slide upwardly on cam surface l3a: of block l3 until the end of the leaf rises above the adjacent vertical wall of the drawer and in the final arcuate movement of leaf section II both leaves will be brought to horizontal position, supported by the combined action of the pivot rod and bracket and the side wall of the drawer.

The collapsible leaf construction may move on rod 8 not only by pivotal movement, but by movement. Thus when the leaf sections have been brought down into horizontal position in the manner above described, with adequate clearance for the inner edges thereof relatively to the table top, they may be pushed back into abutment with the table top, the drawer acting as a rest, and then the drawer itself may be moved back into concealed position below the said extension leaf construction as indicated in Figure 5. The outward movement of the drawer may be limited by a block or blocks I4 carried by the table top at its underface and adapted to be engaged by the rear wall of the drawer and the inward movement of the drawer to concealed position, after the extension leaf sections are brought up into operative position on the drawer, will be limited by the bracket 9. The bracket will be held in fixed position because the leaf section I l which carries the same will lie .in edge abutment with table top I, the drawer will cause the rod to slide relatively to such fixed bracket until the inner face of the drawer front wall engages the forward flange 9:13 of the bracket.

It will be understood that either one or two ex-. tension leaf constructions may be employed, two having been illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive. It will also be understood that where it is desired that the width of the table be increased the extension leaf construction will apply to the side orsides thereof rather than at the end.

The drawer may be closed at its .bottom throughout the area thereof or only at that area which is disposed rearwardly of the extension leaf section, as indicated in Figures 1 to 3 and 6, wherein the rear area of the drawer is provided with a bottom member Lt having a vertically rising front wall 1170:. In such case the stop block I4 carried at the lower face of the table top I will be moved from its position as shown in Figures 4 and 5 to a new position as shown in Figure 3.

By means of the invention an extension leaf table is provided having an unbroken table top and no visible underleaf extensions when the drawer is closed. Furthermore, the construction is simple and inexpensive, the leaves being positioned at an edge area of the table top when the drawer is moved outwardly so that the move- I ment of the extension leaves into operative position and back into collapsed position may very conveniently be performed.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

In a collapsible end leaf construction for tables, a frame, and a table top supported thereby, a drawer slidably mounted in the frame, a rod carried by and extending transversely of the drawer within the same, a leaf extension section carried by the rod for both swinging and endwise movements thereon, the drawer being of a depth substantially greater than the depth of the leaf extension and having a bottom plate disposed rearwardly of the leaf extension, the leaf extension carrier comprising a bracket bar 56- cured to said leaf extension, the lower face thereof being formed with opposed angularly bent legs apertured to receive the rod, the connection between the rod and the extension leaf section being intermediate the ends thereof, a second extension leaf section hinged to an end of the first section and a supporting block having an inclined cam face, the block being secured to a side wall of the drawer and serving as a rest for the free end of said second leaf extension.

JOSEPH COOPER. 

